Average Wedding Cost for Wedding Cake/dessert

$416 is the average wedding cost for Venue, Catering & Rentals Wedding Cake/dessert in United States

Roughly 85% - 95%
of couples purchase this

Note: Average Cost is based on the spending of couples recently married not wedding vendor prices.
This includes all types of weddings, event locations, purchases of both new and pre-owned items and purchases of services from professionals,
someone that simply provides the service, or a hired family member or friend.
Spending and prices can vary widely.

The best way to figure out how much you might spend for your wedding is to use the wedding cost estimator

Start your wedding budget with the Wedding Cost Estimator

Better than a wedding budget calculator, use the wedding cost estimator to create a budget starting point or a wedding budget checklist

Wedding cake by style, size, number of people to feed, and flavor and filling choices

Cake service at the reception

Dessert bar stations

Additional Cost Items to Look Out For

Unique shapes of cakes

Premium list flavors and fillings, since some ' like cannoli cream ' require more ingredients and preparation time

Detailed decoration and icing patterns, such as higher price for a detailed fondant-covered cake or a replica of the bride's wedding gown lace iced onto the cake

Tiers separated by columns instead of sitting on top of one another

Different flavors per pier

Several small cakes in place of one larger one

Having the top tier to take home and enjoy on your first anniversary

Cake-cutting fees, often a few dollars per guest

Cake table

Cake platter

Cake table d'cor, such as flowers and candles

Cake cutting knives

Cake cutting knives, personalized

Cake d'cor accent additions like a brooch

Fresh flowers for on top of the cake

Cake topper

Delivery of the cake

Grooms' cake choice and flavors, as well as size

Groom's cake table and platter

Dessert bar choices, such as pies and mousses, pastries and frosted cookies

Candy bar

S'mores station

Specialty desserts like gluten-free or sugar-free

Custom dessert stations like ice cream sundaes

Dessert bar rentals such as scoops and cake-cutting knives

Plates for the dessert hour

Signage for the dessert bars

Lighting for illuminating the cake and desserts

Delivery of desserts

If you've having an at-home wedding, you'll need a sturdy table to hold your cake, and perhaps another one for your desserts

Why Does It Cost This Much?

Bakers use the finest ingredients for wedding cakes and desserts, and that's where a lot of the cost lies, even if you think flour isn't very expensive. Eggs are, as is cream and ricotta cheese, fine dark chocolate and liquors in a boozy cake. Many bakers source the fruits at organic farmer's markets, and acquire pricy professional-grade fondants. They also have a wide array of baking tools and equipment adding to their cost base, and at the top of the 'why does this cost so much' is the time needed to painstakingly pipe on a replica of your wedding gown lace or latticework, tiny birds and realistic-looking flowers. With a team of bakers putting in many hours to make your cake, as well as all of your desserts, hot or cold, the price adds up.

But considering the dessert hour is often providing the last tastes of your wedding day, and another chance to wow guests visually as well as with the scent of those warm pies and cobblers, it's a sensory feast that puts the finishing touches on a truly impressive and unforgettable wedding.